Power shovel



May 29, 1934. AKA 1,960,589

POWER SHOVEL Original Filed March 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ami/(52am May 1934- H. w. KAKASKA 1,960,589

POWER snovmi Original Filed March 25. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 14 K ajrssjra May 29, 1934. H, w, K A KA 1,960,589

POWER SHOVEL Original Filed March 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f /ae/yfl z' H I'M/Ya kasfra Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES POWER SHOVEL Henry W. Kakaska, South Milwaukee, Wis., as-

signor of one-half to Frank Holt, Milwaukee,

Wis.

Application March 23, 1932, Serial No. 600,656 Renewed October 13, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates to power shovels, and has primarily for its object to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive, and easily operated shovel, which eliminates the usual racking in and crowding of a dipper stick, as well as the necessity of a dipper door and trip.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel mechanism for actuating a digging bucket adapted to travel upon a pivotally supported track, to effect both the digging and dumping operation of the bucket, thus materially simplifying conventional mechanisms now employed to accomplish the same result.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a power shovel in which the bucket track or stick is merely pivotally supported by the shovel boom, and is held against the work by means of the bucket cable.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a power shovel constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the apparatus in dumping position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan illustrating the arrangement of the boom suspension sheaves and the bucket operated sheaves, and

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the cab of a conventional power shovel, which houses the usual operating mechanism and may be mounted upon a turntable supported upon tracks or wheels, the same forming no part of the present invention. Pivotally mounted at the front of the cab is the usual shovel boom 2, fabricated from angle or channel iron and comprising a pair of spaced arms 3, between which a track frame 4 is pivotally mounted.

The fabricated frame 4 consists of a pair of spaced channel members 5 suitably connected by cross struts 6 to provide a rigid track frame, essential to withstand the strain to which the track is subjected during the digging operation to be hereinafter described. The tracks 5 are bent back upon themselves to form an arcurate lower end portion '7, while the front stretches of the tracks 5 terminate at their upper ends in lateral stretches 8, which serve to effect dumping of the digging bucket, as will be hereinafter described.

As best shown in Figure 4, the channel side members 5 serve as tracks for reception of a digging bucket 9, the forward lower edge of which is provided with the usual teeth 10. In order to eliminate friction between the bucket 9 and tracks 5, the bucket is provided with spaced brackets 11 which are secured thereto at opposite sides. Each bracket carries a roller 12 disposed within the adjacent channel track, while a ball or anti-frictional member 13, mounted in each roller stud, engages the side of the track to prevent lateral movement and reduce friction and bind.

Secured to the tracks 5 is a yoke 14, which carries the stub shafts 15 journalled within the outer ends of the arms 3 of the shovel boom 2, thus forming a pivotal connection for the frame 4. Mounted on the stub shafts 15 are the sheaves 16, over which the boom suspension cables 1'7 are trained. The dead ends of the hoist cables 17 are attached to the blocks 18 connected with the brackets 19 mounted on the cab. Sheaves 20, also carried by the brackets, receive the working stretches of the hoist cables 17, which are then trained over the usual drum positioned within the cab. Obviously, the foregoing arrangement of cables serves to raise and lower the free end of the boom 2, which pivotally supports the track frame 4.

In order to manipulate the bucket 9, the upper end of the track frame 4, which projects above the pivotal connection with the boom, carries the sheave 21, over which the actuating cable 22 is trained. The free end of the cable 22, secured to a clevise 23, is pivotally connected with an ear 24 extending from the front end of the bucket. The actuating cable 22, which passes over the sheave 25 mounted on the cab, is operated by the usual drum mechanism (not shown), and serves to raise and lower the bucket on the track frame.

In addition to the foregoing cable connections, a swinging cable 26 is also provided, having its free end connected with the lower portion of the track frame 4, and being trained over a sheave 2'7, from which it runs to the usual drum mechanism housed within the cab. Ihe cable 26 merely serves to swing the track 4 on its pivotal connection with the boom, to permit digging and dumping of the bucket, as will be hereinafter described.

In operation, the track frame 4 is lowered to the position shown in Figure 1, and the bucket 9 is lowered to the arcuate portion '7 of the track. The cable 22 is then wound in, causing the bucket to be drawn over the arcuate portion 7 of the track frame, and thereafter elevated to dumping position. Inasmuch as the actuating cable 22 passes over the sheave 21, mounted above the pivotal connection between the track (l and the boom 2, the same will tend to urge the lower end of the track into engagement with the work, at the same time the bucket is actuated on the track, thus eliminating complicated apparatus and numerous operations heretofore required in crowding and racking in conventional dippers.

As the bucket is elevated after effecting the digging operation, the track 4 is raised by the swinging cable 26, which causes the lateral stretches 8 to depend downwardly, as shown in Figure 2. The bucket is then elevated with sufficient speed to cause the guide rollers 12 to enter the stretches 8, thus inverting the bucket to effect the dumping operation. After this is completed, the actuating cable 22 is wound in slightly, to cause the bucket rollers 12 to leave the stretches 8 and enter the main portion of the track to be lowered for another digging operation.

Inasmuch as rapid movement of the bucket is required on the track 4, it is desirable to cushion the same at the limits of its movement. Therefore, positioned within the arcuate stretches 7, and the lateral portions 8, are coil springs 28, which serve to absorb the strain of an abrupt stop. Also, inasmuch as the bucket 9 will at times be positioned within the rear portion of the arcuate stretch '7, some tendency to bind might result when the cable 22 is actuated. To overcome this, a sheave 30 is supported upon the track frame 2, adjacent its forward stretch, and will receive the cable 22 in the event that the bucket assumes a position at the rear of the arcuate stretch.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that an extremely simple and eihcient shovel mechanism has been provided, which not only reduces the cost of apparatus of this type, but also facilitates operation and increases the Working capacity. While a hoisting cable is necessarily required for the boom, during the greater period of operation, it is merely necessary to operate two cables, namely 22 and 26, whereas in conventional structures a great many operating cables are required in addition to a dipper drip, which, under the best conditions, necessitates an awkward operation.

Furthermore, swinging dipper doors are eliminated, thus reducing breakage frequently resulting in slamming the doors to effect latching of the same.

I claim: y

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal boom, a track frame pivotally supported on the outer end of said boom, said frame having an arcuate lower portion and lateral stretches at its upper pivoted end, a bucket reciprocatively mounted on said track frame, and means for actuating said bucket.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal boom, a track frame pivotally supported on the outer end of said boom and depending therefrom, said track frame having an arcuate portion at its lower free end and lateral stretches at its upper pivoted end, a bucket mounted on said track frame, rollers carried by said bucket and. engaged in said track frame, and unitary means for swinging said frame and reciprocating said bucket thereon.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal boom, a track frame pivotally supported on the outer end of said boom and depending therefrom, said track frame having an arcuate portion at its lower free end, and lateral stretches at its upper pivoted end, a bucket reciprocatively mounted on said track frame, a sheave carried by said track frame at its upper end, and a cable connected to said bucket and passed over said sheave to actuate said bucket on said frame and to swing said frame on said boom.

HENRY W. KAKASKA. 

